Exactly. Every team has plenty of players they have traded or cut that in retrospect would have helped them tremendously. It happens to every team in every sport. The Twins have been arguably the model franchise of the MLB and one mistake, even a really big one, is definitely excusable.

Yeah, I'd say their development of Johan Santana and Joe Mauer makes this one excusable.

Like everyone else said, the Twins had no idea what Ortiz would become. It happens to everyone, but it is interesting to think of what could have been.

"Oh, that Lankford and McGee, the trio of 'em. They're a one-man wrecking crew."

Ortiz definitely would have improved and been a staple of the lineup, but I don't think he would have reached the level of success he has had in Boston. Hitting in front of Manny in a hitters ballpark has certainly helped and the Red Sox has seemingly given him more freedom than the Twins ever did. Ortiz in Boston has been good for baseball so I can't really regret the move the Twins did make.